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The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has halted the operation of 14 nap pods installed at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi after rumors swirled that they were part of a scheme to capitalize on poor flight coordination.

Vo Huy Cuong, the CAAV’s deputy director, was quoted by news website VnExpress as saying that its inspectors had determined that the nap pods had been properly positioned in the airport on Friday (July 25).

The CAAV referred to "some sources of public opinion” which had charged that the sleeping spaces represented a scheme by the Vietnam Airlines Tourism Company (VATC) – which developed the pods – to capitalize on rising flight delays and cancellations

For this reason, the CAAV decided to halt the operation of the pods to conduct a further review, he said.

“If the public gradually accepts this service, we will allow it to be developed,” he told VnExpress.

On July 22, VATC installed the 14 sleeping pods (essentially three single and 11 double enclosed apartments) in Terminal 1.

Each pod covers an area of four square meters and is three meters high. It is equipped with a bed, a drawer, an alarm clock and clothes hangers.

VATC said the first three hours cost VND210,000 (US$10) for a single pod and VND252,000 ($12) for a double pod--the price includes free drinks, snacks and WIFI.